Means for securing cooling units in window boxes



May 19,1953 w. F. BORGERD MEANS FOR SECURING COOLING UNITS IN WINDOWBOXES Filed April 26 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2a HIU 1 enf07'. PZl/iZZi-amF30 erd 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. F. BORGERD MEANS FOR SECURING COOLING UNITSIN WINDOW BOXES Filed A ril 26, 1951 May 19, 1953 ard Patented May 19,I953 MEANS FOR SECURING COOLING UNITS IN WINDOW BOXES William F.Borgerd, Evansville, Ind., assignor to International Harvester Company,a corporation of New Jersey Application April 26, 1951, Serial No.223,038

1 This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus of the typegenerally incorporated into a small unit structure that is adapted forpositioning in a window opening. More specifically, however, it isconcerned with the means for removably positioning and mounting suchapparatus in a suitable supporting structure which, in turn, ismountable in a window opening.

Units of this character in order to be entirely satisfactorycommercially must be designed to fulfill certain requirements. Sincethey are frequently removed and replaced, in accordance with thechanging seasons, they should, of course, be of a size and weight thatcan be readily handled by the household user. Furthermore, they shouldbe sufficiently flexible as to be suitable for use with a multitude ofdifierently dimensioned window frames.

Heretofore many different types of structures have been utilized in anattempt to provide a unit that satisfactorily meets such requirementsand the present invention is concerned with one of the units of thistype that has found considerable commercial favor. In order tofacilitate installation in a window opening and to improve the handlingthereof it has heretofore been proposed to fabricate air conditioningunits of this character in two readily separable component assembliesconsisting essentially of a window box supporting unit assembly and anequipment or machinery unit assembly. The window box assembly is usuallya housing or casing-type of structure designed so that it may becompletely separated from the remainder of the air conditioning unit andreadily installed in or removed from a window opening, while themachinery unit assembly is generally a structure arranged as a unitarycomponent adapted to fit into the window box and be securely maintainedtherein during its operation. Prior units of this character haveemployed various means for holding and locking their individualassemblies together, but no entirely satisfactory device foraccomplishing this in a facile manner has heretofore been proposed;hence the present inventi'on has for its principal object the provisionof a simple, inexpensive, durable and readily operable means forretaining in looking engagement individual component assemblies of anair conditioning unit.

Another object is to provide cooperating means, portions of which aredisposed on different and separable assemblies of an air conditioningunit, for retaining said assemblies in an engaged locking relationship,

7 Claims. (Cl. 62-429) 2 i A further object isto provide a positiveinterlocking means for retaining an air conditioning machinery unitassembly in a separable mounting unit structure.

A still further object is to provide an interlocking arrangement, forfixedly positioning one unit assembly within'a separate cooperatingassembly, including a raised portion on one of the assemblies that isadapted for registering with a notch-like recess on the other assembly.

Another object is to provide a cam-like interlocking means formaintaining separate assemblies of a window-type air conditioning unitin operably engaging relationship.

Another object is to provide means for facilitating the installation andremoval of an air conditioning unit in a window opening.

A yet still further object is to provide a window-type air conditioningunit fashioned with a window box assembly portion adapted for removablemounting in a window opening and a separable machinery assembly portionadapted for positioning within the window box, wherein the window box isprovided with projecting means and. separate overlying flange or lipmeans that interlock with cooperating means on the machinery assemblyportion for fixedly positioning said latter portion within said windowbox. The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention willbecome apparent as the disclosure is more fully made in the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention asillustrated in the ing drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a window type air conditioning unitmounted in a window opening, having portions thereof cut away orsectioned to show the adaptation therein of the present invention. r a

Figure 2 is a perspective view of thewindow of the present invention aredistinctly shown.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of an air conditioning unit, with portionsthereof broken away or sectioned and illustrated with the machineryassembly portion withdrawn or separated from the window box portion intowhich it is ordinarily fixedly positioned during operation, that.

of Figure 4 andshows the cam-like relationship accompanybetweencooperating elements of a portion of the proposed interlocking meanswhen in an engaged or operating position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the rear portion of the guiderail and shows the over-hanging'fiange that forms part of the interlocking means ofthe invention.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted that one embodiment of awindow-type air conditioning unit has been illustrated and representedgenerally by the numeral .lll. As. is well understood, such units mayinclude a room cabinet or machinery assembly portion H that pro jectsinto the room being cooled, and a window box assembly portion 12 thatextends outside the room and usually into the outside atmosphere. Therefrigerating apparatus or machinery, as is well understood in the art,extends partially within the room cabinet and partially within thewindow box, but, since all of this is not essential to the presentinvention, only the air circulating fan .43 and its driving motor 14,the condenser 15 and the motor--compressor it have been illustrated inthe drawings. Further reference to the details of this apparatus isbelieved unnecessary in the detailed description hereinafter.

The window box assembly, preferably, is an open ended casing having'louvers in the side walls iithereof, a solid top 18 and an open bottomt9. Afiixed, as by welding or the like, to the lower portion of eachside wall I? is a horizontally extending L-shaped angle guide railmember One such member on each side wall, when positioned in opposedrelation, may

function as a track or guide along which the remainder or machineryassembly of the unit may slide as it is inserted and removed from withinthe window box. A small L-shaped angle rail member 2! interconnects theoutward or rear ends of said guide rails 2B and issecured thereto by anysuitable means. At the forward or room end the guide rails are connectedtogether by a substantially flat-rail member .22 having a smalldepending flange 23 along its rearward edge. This latter rail member isadapted to rest on the upper horizontal .face of a window stool 24 whileits depending flange 23 abuts the, rear vertical face of said stool.Said rail member 22 may, of course, be fixedly secured to the side guiderails 20 by any suitableconventionalmeans, This forward rail member 22'is further provided with a, plurality of slotted openings proximat-eeach, end thereof, that are, adapted to re,- ceive the hooked end 26 ofa clamp, member .21. The opposite end of said clamp is bent downwardlyand an adjusting screw 28 threadably positioned therein. One end of.said screw rotatably engages a clamp ,jaw member 29 which may be fittedwith a felt pad 30, or of some equally suitable cushioning material, soashto avoid marring the edge of the stool .24 when .it is clampedthereagainst.

The'outside portion of the supporting structure, i. e., that portiondisposed outside the window, includes a sill mounting member 3!,extending the width of the window box, that is fashioned, preferably,with a vertical member 32 and aihorizontal member 33 extending from, theupper edge thereof. Downwardly depending from the inner edge of saidhorizontal member is. a flange .34

which is adapted for resting on the-upper surface of a window sill 35.36 extending through the vertical flange of said member, and disposedone at either end thereof,,

Round headed bolts 1 4 are provided for purposes which will presentlyappear.

Each guide rail member 20 is fashioned, preferably, with a pressed-outcanal-like groove or recess 3? that extends longitudinally along thecentral portion of its horizontal arm. The floor of said recess isprovided with a plurality of spaced openings .38 adapted to receive acap screw 39, the head of which may rest in said recess withoutinterfering with the machinery assembly component of the airconditioning unit as it slides along the guide rail members 26 into andout of the window box. The window box support member 4B is an L-shapedangle having a slotted opening ll in the horizontal arm thereof adaptedto receive the cap screw 39, which, together with a securing nut 42,functions to affix said support member in a desired fixed horizontalrelationship with respect to the guide rail member 2E]. The vertical armd3 of said support member may be provided with a plurality of slottedopenings 44 adapted for receiving the bolt 36 which, together with thenut d5, functions to fixedly retain said support member in any onev of amultitude of different vertical positions. With both verticalandhorizontal adjustments being obtainable it will be appreciated that agreat many combinations of positions may be efiected and the supportingstructure adjusted to accommodate many differently dimensioned windowopenings .and window frames. It will be understood, of course, that awindow boxsupportmember, such as Gil, is provided for each guide railmember, but since both members are identical only one-has been shown anddescribed.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the machinery assembly portionof the air conditioning unit is shown to include that portion of therefrigeration apparatus, .such as the condenser, compressor and fanwhich extends out of the room and into the window box assembly, and thehousing or casing ll that encloses the portion of the refrigerationequipment (not shown) that extends or projects into the room beingconditioned. All. of the refrigeration apparatus,

however, is mounted, preferably, on a unitary base structure (not shown)which includes two securely afiixed angled rail members disposed one oneither side of the unit. Although only one such side rail member,represented by the numeral 45., has been illustrated in the drawings itwill be understood that two such members will be employed.

Each side rail member 46 is fashioned with a transversely disposedV-shaped notch or recess '41 extending inwardly in the lower face of thehorizontal arm of said member, while a portion of the outer end of thevertical web or arm of the member is cut away to provide a tapered orbeveled vertically inclined edge portion 48. and a .lower horizontaledge portion '49 extending therefrom. Said recess and cut-away portionsare intended to cooperate with mating elements in the window boxassembly in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Each of the guide rail members Zll, in the window box l2, has atransversely disposed V-shaped rib-like projection or ridge 50 extendingupwardly from thehorizontal arm thereof that is adapted to cooperatewith and fit into the corresponding V -shaped recess 4] in the proximateside rail of the machinery assembly in the manner best illustrated inFigures 1 and 5. Adjacent the rear or outer end of each guide railmember aportion of the vertical web or-arm thereof is inwardly turned orbent over to provide a flange or liplike ramp extension 5| that is soformed and dimensioned that the tapered or beveled edge portion 48, ofthe side rail 46, may slide thereunder in close-fitting relationshipwhen the machinery assembly is positioned within the window boxassembly.

After the window box]! is positioned in a window opening and the outersupport members properly adjusted, the jaw of the clamp member 2'! isadjusted so that the jaw is tightly pressed against the stool of thewindow. Next the window sash 52 is pulled down tightly against the topof the window box and thereafter retained by some suitable means, suchas the screws 53 (only one of which has been shown for purpose ofclarity). A resilient gasket 54 may, if desired, be positioned betweenthe window sash and the top of the window box for the purpose of sealingthe unit, while filler pieces 55 may also be employed to seal the spacebetween the side of the window frame 56 and the side of said window box.

With the window box properly in place in the window opening themachinery assembly portion ll may be lifted and slidably positioned intoplace therein, whereupon the tapered edge 48 of each side rail 46 willabut in close fitting relationship the undermost face of the rampextension or flange member 5|, of the guide rail 20, while the ll-shapednotch or recess 41 of said side rail will come to rest over the V-shapedridge Fall of said guide rail. The weight of the machinery assemblyportion 1 I will effect a camming action that will cause the twocooperating V-shaped notches in the side and guide rails, respectively,to fit tightly one into the other, and, at the same time, force thetapered edge portion 48 to bear tightly against the lip-like extension5!, thus providing an inter-locking holding means for fixedlypositioning said machinery assembly within the window box. To remove themachinery assembly portion from the window box it is merely necessary toraise said assembly sufficiently to disengage the cooperating V-shapednotches and then slide it outwardly.

From the foregoing it will be readily appreciated that the presentinvention provides a very simple, compact, durable and positive meansfor interlockingly engaging the machinery and window box assemblies ofan air conditioning unit and constraining them against relative movementwith respect to one another while retained in operable relationship. Theproposed interlocking means is relatively inexpensive and may be readilyincorporated in an air conditioning unit without any appreciablealteration therein. It is understood, of course, that changes may bemade in the construction without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a unit air conditioner of the type having separable assembliessuitable for positioning one within the other and adapted for removablemounting in a window opening, the combination comprising: a window boxassembly adapted for mounting in a window opening; a machinery assemblyhaving refrigeration apparatus mounted therein and adapted forpositioning within said window box; means for slidably positioning saidmachinery assembly Within said Window box assembly; means including arib-like projection on one assembly and a cooperating recess in theother assembly for restraining relative horizontal movement between saidassemblies when disposed one within the other; and interlocking meansincluding an inturned flange portion on one assembly and a cooperatingmember on the other assembly for restricting relative vertical movementbetween said assemblies.

2. In a unit air conditioner of the type having separate assembliessuitable for positioning one Within the other and adapted for removablemounting in a window opening, the combination, comprising: a window boxassembly adapted for mounting in a window opening; a machinery assemblyhaving refrigeration apparatus mounted therein and. adapted forpositioning within said window box; means for slidably positioning saidmachinery assembly into and out of said window box assembly; meansincluding a rib-like projection on one assembly and a cooperating recesson the other assembly for fixedly positioning said assemblies withrespect to lateral movement of one within the other; and means forinterlocking said assemblies in operable position so as to limitrelative vertical movement therebetween.

3., In a unit air conditioner of the type having separable assembliessuitable for slidably positioning one within the other and adapted forremovable mounting in a window opening, the combination, comprising: awindow box assembly including a housing and frame structure having aguide member disposed on one side thereof; said guide member having arib-like projection proximate one end thereof; a machinery assemblyhaving refrigeration apparatus .mounted therein and including asupporting structure having a longitudinally extending rail member onone side thereof and adapted for being slidably positioned within saidwindow box; said rail member having a recess therein disposedintermediate its ends and fashioned to receive said rib-like projectionupon positioning of said machinery assembly within said window boxassembly whereby said assemblies are constrained against relativelateral movement with respect to one another.

4. In a unit air conditioner of the type having separable assembliessuitable for slidably positioning one within the other and adapted forremovable mounting in a window opening, the combination, comprising: aWindow box assembly including a housing and frame structure having aguide member disposed on one side thereof; said guide member having arib-like projection proximate one end and an inwardly projecting flangeportion proximate the opposite end thereof; a machinery assembly havingrefrigeration apparatus therein and including a supporting structurehaving a longitudinally extending rail member on one side thereof; saidrail member having a recess therein disposed intermediate its ends; andsaid machinery assembly being adapted for slidable positioning withinsaid window box assembly with said rib-like projection engaging saidrecess and one end of said rail member tightly engaging said flangeportion whereby said assemblies are restrained from relative movementwith respect to one another.

5. In a unit air conditioner of the type fabricated in separateassemblies suitable for positioning one within the other and adapted forremovable mounting in a window opening, the combination, comprising: awindow box assembly includ ing a housing having confining guide membersoppositely disposed therein; a machinery assembly having refrigerationapparatus mounted therein and including a supporting structure providedwith longitudinally extending rail members; said confining guid-emembers being arranged to engage said longitudinal rail members when themachinery assembly is positioned within said WlHdGW'bOX'; and meansincluding a projection and cooperating recess on the window box assemblyand machinery assembly respectively for interlock'ingly engaging saidassemblies against lateral movement with respect to one another wheninoperable position.

6. In a unit air conditioner ofthe type having separable assembliessuitable for positioning one within the-other and adapted for mountingin a window opening, thecombina-tion, comprising: a window box assemblyincluding a housing having confining guide members oppositely disposedtherein; of said guide members having a riblik-e projection proximateone end and an inwardly projecting flange portion proximate the oppositeend thereof; a machinery assembly having refrigeration apparatus mountedtherein and including a supporting structure having a longitudina-liyextending rail member on each of two sides thereof; each of said railmembers having a recess therein disposed intermediate the ends thereof;and having said machinery assembly adapted for slidable positioningWithin said window box assembly with said rib-like projections engagingin mating relationship corresponding recesses while one end of each railmember engages in tight fitting relationship a corresponding inturnedflange portion whereby said assemblies are constrained against relativemovement with respect to one another.

7. In a unit air conditioner of the type having separable assembliessuitable for positioning, one

within the other and adapted for mounting in a window opening; thecombination, comprising: a window'box assembly including a housinghaving oppositely disposed guide members; said guide members beingfashioned with vertical and horizontal arm portions and having atransversely disposed rib-like projection proximate one end ofthehorizontal arm, and an inwardly turned flange por-t'ion extendingfrom the upper edge of theopposite end of the vertical arm portionthereof; a machinery assembly having refrigeration apparatus mountedtherein and having a supporting structure provided with longitudinallyextending rail members; said rail members being fashioned with verticaland horizontal arm portions; and having a transversely disposed recessintermediate the ends of thehor-izontal arm, and a tapered edge portionproximate the opposite end-of thevert-ical arm thereof; said machineryassembly being adapted for slidable positioning within said window boxassembly with said riblikeprojections ofone assembly engaging saidmating recesses in the other assembly and the tapered-edge portions ofthe rail members tightly engaging the flange portions of the guidemembers, whereby said assemblies are constrained against relativemovement with respect to one another.

WILLIAM F. BORGERD.

References Gited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,335,627 Wolfert Nov. 30, 1943 V2,4 '?2,'7.-92 Cohler June14, 1949

